History:

Nestled between the Columbia River to the south, and the mountains and basalt cliffs of the Gorge to the north, the City of Stevenson offers a welcome respite from the noise and congestion of large cities. Take a stroll and explore the riverfront and downtown Stevenson. Visit our unique shops, restaurants, pub and delicatessens. You'll discover a friendlier, laid back lifestyle-reminiscent of earlier decades.

Strategically located just above the rapids known as the Upper Cascades, the Stevenson area has been home to Native American settlements for thousands of years. Their villages were focal points for commerce and social gatherings as they came to trade and fish along the riverbanks. Later the first explorers and missionaries (Lewis & Clark, David Thompson, Dr. Spaulding) used the Columbia River to penetrate the Cascade Mountains on their way to the Pacific Ocean. In 1843 the Oregon Trail brought the first of a great wave of settlers past our shores. Pioneers portaged around the Cascade Rapids on their way to the Willamette Valley.

Today, you can stroll along Stevenson's riverfront parks where giant fish wheels once plied the Columbia River's waters for salmon. Witness the myriads of colorful kiteboarders' sails, as they jump and twist on the Columbia's swells. Watch the ducks, geese and other waterfowl nesting at Rock Creek Cove. Browse through gift shops, antique stores and art galleries. And visit the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center to explore Native American legends, petroglyphs and artifacts telling the story of the Gorge. Return to a quieter time. Return to Stevenson.